Join me this Friday on Sex Out Loud for an hour focused on sex toy innovators and creators. First, we’ll feature staff from Smitten Kitten, talking about how they got started in Minneapolis, what toys are the most popular, and which ones are the most recommended by their experts. They’ll make recommendations for all types of sex toys, including ones for those who think they’ve seen it all. Then, Tristan talks to Kandi Burruss on the eve of the premiere of the fifth season of her hit reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta on Bravo. We’ll discuss why she decided to create her award-winning sex toy line Bedroom Kandi, sexual conservatism in the African American community, and how to bring sex toys to partner sex. Plus, we’ll hear about her relationship with her mom and daughter and how she plans to take her newfound status as a sex educator to the next level.

Whether singing, songwriting, running her Atlanta-based clothing store T.A.G.S., raising her adorable daughter Riley, running her own production company or showcasing her life on the insanely popular Bravo reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kandi does it with trademark tenacity and an unstoppable grind. Kandi‘s songwriting skills have made history twice. She is the first African American woman to win the prestigious ASCAP “Songwriter of the Year” award (2000) and the first woman ever to win ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Music Award (2000). In 2011, she paired with OhMiBod to create a line of sex toys for her new venture, Bedroom Kandi. She also hosts the weekly Internet talk show “Kandi Koated Nights” (kandikoatednight.com) every Wednesday, which features frank discussions of sex and relationships.

The Smitten Kitten is a hub of community activity. We consider ourselves sex-positive culture makers and community members. That’s with purpose. When we opened in 2003, there were only a handful of places like this in the country—in the world even. We were tired of scouring the internet for helpful and relevant information about sex, and we were totally exhausted by shopping online for toys and supplies that too often ended up being disappointing. So, for the better of our own sex lives, we opened our own sex toy store. What you’ll find at Smitten Kitten today is the place we wish we had when we were first adult retail consumers ourselves. Our store is welcoming. The folks who work here are friendly and honestly helpful. The products that we sell are well-researched, are good quality, and represent the best value in their class. Read some of our reviews online and you’ll see that it’s not only us who think we’re doing a pretty good job. Basically, you won’t find any bullshit at Smitten Kitten because that’s just not our style. What you will find are wholesome, sexy Midwestern folks and visitors of all ages, races, abilities, sexual orientations, and genders shopping with common purpose: a happier, healthier, sexier and more inspiring love life.